The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1887-05-05
The Mounds and Mound Builders.
PREHISTORIC OHIO.
BY PROF. l.. c. BATEMAN.


Atlantis. What l have already written may
possibly excite the derision of those choice
spirits who devote their leisure hours to the
contemplation of their own marvellous attain
mcnts. There is an unbelef which grows out
of ignorance, as well as a skepticism that is
born of intelligence. The fact that Atlantis
was for thousands of years regarded as a
myth proves nothing. For seventeen hundred
years the city of Pompeii was spoken of as a
fable. Pliny was derdcd rs the father of
liars, and his account Of that awful catas-
:rophc believed by none: but ] have myself
walked upon the same pavements that once
resounded the echoes of Roman chariots. For
thirty centuries the scholastic world has scoti-
ed at the Trojan war. The lust of Paris. the
beauty of Helen, and the devotion of Priam,
were regarded as the fancifu creation of HON.
cr's brain. But within our own day the learn
ed Schliemann has unearthed the site of Troy,
and in the treasure house of Mycenp discover
cd the shield of Achilles and the tomb Of
Agamemnon. The wooden horse of classic
history thus becomes an established fact, and
the fairy tales of our childhood hours are
proven by the musty records of the past.
Who, then, shall say that the Atlantis of Plato
will not some day be dragged before the aston
ished gaze of man? Scientific research is adj
vancng with mighty strides. Achievements
which Il few years since would have been
deemed impossible are now but playthings in
its magic grasp. Deep sea soundings recently
made by the British ship Challenger have
gone far towards proving the story of Plato
and Homer. On the bottom of the ocean is
mapped out the spot where once
AROSE THE ISLAND or ATLANTIS.
The result is the revelation of great cleva-
American coast. This elevation rises at least
ten thousand feet above the great Atlantic
depths around it, and the AZore islands are
but its mountain peaks. The inequalities of
its surface and volcanic debris, are such rs
could only be made 10y agencies oncc acting
0bore tie uater terel. Here, then, we have
the Sunkcn pathway which once connected
Europe and America. The Garden of Eden.
the Garden of Hesperidcs, the Elysian Fields.
the Olympus, the Asgard and the AZtan, here
lie in II common grave. Religious mythology
may obscure their real meaning, but science
will one day establish their actual existence
and identity. Here will be found
THE CRADLE OF MANKIND,
now rocking in the bosom of tn: deep; and
here in their birthplace will be found the his
tory of those strange races that once inhabited
the hills and dales of our own loved land
They have long since passed away leaving
no written trace behind
''Vain was the chiefs, the sage's pride,
They had no poet and they died."
We stand upon their mighty ruins and for Il
brief moment contemplate their withcred
glory. In the hurly burIy Of our madlened
modern existence we scarcely pause to raise
the veil which divides us from the mysteries of
the past. My humble effort has been to throw
Il ray of light upon this hidden subject. But
few have trodden the path before me, and of
those few none have succeeded. How far my
theory may bear the plau>ibility of truth will
leave others to judge. But enough of this
These letters were designed to describe
TIE WORKS OF TIE MOUND BUILDERS,
rather than to speculate on their origin or dis
appearance. 1t is an astonishing fact that the
great mound of Cahokia near Alton, covers
over an area as large as the great pyramid of
CheopS. Some idea of its size may bc formed
when state that it occupies thirteen acres of
ground, and the lattened platform upon its
summit is over three hundred by four hundred
feet. Strange to say there is Il mound near
Avebury, England, of exactly similar con-
struction. The English mound is considerably
higher than ours, but in all other respects it is
the same. An immense moat extends around
the entire space, drawn in the form of an cN-
act circle. When we consider the attrition
caused by the frosts and storms of ages, we
are forced to the conclusion that the ori gina
size of all these structures must have been
much larger than now. That they were built
for different purposes is shown by the variety
of their forms. At Pikcton there is an inn
mcn>e monument of mound building labor
called the ''gradcd way" 1t consists of two
prolonged pyramids, if may use the express
sion. and the works extend for several miles.
The embankmcnts are only about forty feet
apart, exactly parallel with each other. and
rise to height of twenty feet. The most eN-
perienced eye cannot detect the slightest differ
encc between them in form and similarity of
construction. No man living can offer even a
plausible theory for what purpose they We're
intended. There they stand in their solitary
grandeur, and there they will stand to cause
TIE wONDERAENT OF GENERATIONS
yet unborn. That the builders of these mounds
had perfect system of weights and measures
there is abundant evidence. Copper and silver
bracelets found in their burial vaults are of
uniform size; measurin. two and nnc-tenths
inches, and each weighing precisely four
ounces. Copper implements have been found
plated with silver, and finished in the most eN-
quiSite style. These articles have been critical
ly examined and it is beyond doubt that they
We're absolutely iloted-no simply overad
with silver. 1t is a well known fact that the
plating of copper is one of the most difficult of
all arts. But it is useless for me to particular
ize on all the evidences of their superior civil-
zation. Perhaps the most amazing and inter-
esting of all the Mound Builders remains can
be seen in the town Of Marietta. This place is
the County scat of Washington County, and is
the Oldest settled town in Ohio 1t is situated
OH the left bank of the Muskingum river at
the confluence with the Ohio, and is about one
hundred miles southeast from Columbus. The
village is built on level plot of ground, and in
the midst of the most beautiful scenery. Its
buildings are Hastily constructed, and thrift and
industry can be seen on every hand. The in
habtants are mostly of New England origin,
and but few places in our country can compare
with it in intelligence and morality. Once ship
building was carried on extensively here. but
that business has now entirely decayed. This is
AN HISTORIC AS WELL AS A PREHISTORIC
TOWN.
Its founder was General Rufus Putnam. one of
the most noted of Revolutionary heroes. Here,
also, resided Herman Blcnnerhassct, whose
connection with the i'll fatcd project of Aaron
Burr has given his name a wide spread notori-
ETY.. This gifted but unfortunate man was Il
resident of Marietta from 1896 till 1898. Dur
ing the latter year he began improvements on
the beautiful island which has since borne his
name. 1t is but short distance away and is
cmbosomcd amidst the most charming scenery.
Here, for many years, surrounded by every
comfort which cultivated taste and unbounded
wealth could suggest or procure, resided Her
man Blennerhasset and his lovely bride. In an
evil hour the willy and seductive Burr entered
this quiet retreat and forever blasted its pros
noetS Enrca.l to flaa from ho Ian Il hoso hos